MAUKU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 215, 6 October 1916, Page 2

MAUKU.

A SCHOOLBOY'S PUNISHMENT. MAGISTERIAL PROCEEDING?, i MASTER'S ACTION UPHELD At tha sitting of th» Pakekobe Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr P. V. Frazer, S.M., Mr George A. Gutry, headmaster of the West Mauku School, was summoned at the instance of Mrs Jane Wright, of Patumahoe, for having; on September 12th assaulted her bo*, Gooli Alfred Wm. Wright, aged 15 years, by rtnkiag him on his leg' and on the back of his left hand with a cane contrary to statute. Mr Cryil Mabony prosecuted, and Mr E. Blomfield (Messrs Parr and Blomficld) appeared for the Auckland Teachers' Institute in defence. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr Maboay, before calling evidence, remarked that it wis not his intention to dispute the right of a master to exercise discipline even with the aid ul a csne but there were occasions when the thrashing went beyond what was necessary and he calmed that in that case such existed as well as the punishment being given unjustly. THE BOY'S STORY

The boy, who is of strong and big physique, exhibited nervousness and frequently shed tears in the witness box. He stated that he was playing tennis in tbe school grounds or. lhuraday, September 7th, whilst the assistant teacher was drilling her class nearby, and he called out "Porm fours." Mr Gutry came out and asking him wby be interrupted tbe drilling and ordered him to stop in school all play time and ell lunch hours until further notice. He stopped in school that day but tbe next day (Friday) he did not go tn school as he had a cold, acd on the Monday be again stayed away, as he bad to drive his mother to Puke* kohe. Oa going to school on tbe Tuesday (September 12th) he saw his name among others marked up on the black board with five or six crosses attached to it. After school bad commenced Mr Gutry said that if any boy saw his name on the board and did not know the reason he could ask bim the reason. He moved from his seat and went to Mr Gutry and asked bim why his name appeared on the Board with crosses attached, and Mr Uutry's answer was "You need not think you will escape punishment by staying away." In reply to the Magistrate, the boy stated that what be wanted to know from Mr Gutry was what the crosses meant, although be presumed they referred to tbe play time and meal houw when be should have stopped in whilst he was absent. Continuing his evidence, tbe ooy said that Mr Gutry told him to go to bis seat and hj half nodded his bead and muttered '"Yei" to himself.

"CHEEKING" THE MASTEK. By the Magistrate: It was really at Mr Gutry hj? nodded and be meant it as "cheek." Examination (continued): Mr Gutry sent fur the cane (produced) and told him to hold oat his handj bat he refused to do so. The Magistrate, to Mr Btomfield: Has the Auckland Education Board any regulation as to the instrument if punishment? When I was teactong in Otago a strap had to be used instead of a cane. Mr Blomtield replied that he believed there *as no regulation in force for the Auckland Board's district, and he added that it required a stronger man to use a strap than a cane. The Magistrate: Remembering my younger days I don't know about that. (Laughter). THE CANING.

Tbe boy went on to say that he told] Mr Gutry that he would go home, aud when be took a step towards the door Mr Gutry pushed hiai back on to a form and again ordered him to hold oat his hand, but be did not. Mr fJutry was "pretty wild and lashed out right and left at him with the cane," striking him come seven blows on his rigbt leg, four on his lelt leg and two on the knuckles of his left band, he got tbe hit'on his knuckle in ntov log his hand to protect his knees. After being so punished be thought he had better hold out his hand before Mr Gutry "got too dangerous"— (laughter)—so he held it oot and Mr Gutry gave him one cut. He movej towards the door to so home, bat Mr Gutry remarking that the school would be well rid ot him made him walk up and down the. school before all the pupils.- Ue then left. Tbe back of bis band was swollen and he now had not tbe same strength in bis left fore-finger as he previously had. After he got borne bis mother took him into Fukekohe and he saw a doctor. On the occasion of a former punishment Mr Gutry read out to him extracts from a book entitled ' 'Tbe Life of a Criminal," likening bim to the character in the book, and thus holding him up to ridicule before the other scholars.

Cross-examined: tie was 15 years of age and was in Standard 4. Before going to the Mauku school he attended tbe Patamahoe school, which was about the same distance away from his home. His uncle (Mr Graham) was the master there, and he bad given him a "cut or two." He did not leave the Patumahoe school because his uncle punished him, but because tbe teachers were constantly changing and he was doing no good there. He did not aßk Mr Gutry why his name-was on the board simply to show himself off before tbe other pupils. No other boy bad been whipped In tbt for a yean The whipping he previously received from Mr Gutryteok place two years ago. After having fcWen him three "cuts" on bis legs Mr Gutry ordered him to hold out hie hand, saying be would give him one "cut" on it. Mr ttusy stopped wbinping him after he bad held out bi(?u«jjfe|nd had received one cut on had bad talks with/him and had advised him about getting on tbe world. Mr ifrbmfield: You don't tbink much of Mr Gutry? The boy decisively): No 1 don't (Laughter). Dr Hronte spoke to having ex< ■mined tbe bov in I'akekohs about noon on September 12th, when he touod tbe back of his left hand considerably swollen and long weals on

his left leg with an abraeion of the skin and a little congealed blood at the end of one weal. The boy could not move his left fore-finger, and he Ur Bronte) would not be surprised if the tii ger uuw had not its original strength.

THE MOIHER REBUKED. * Mm .lane Wright, the mother of the toy, deposed that he was a nervous and sensitive boy and not naturally dull. She took him away from Patumahoe school because he was not learning anything there. She complained to a member of the School Committee of a punishment he got at Patumahoe. Cross-examined: She wanted her boy to te a "good man" and considerel punishment 9bould be given if deserved but sne thought Mr Gutry was very hot tempered. She did n">t thiuk she would spoil the boy bv interfering between him and his schoolmaßter. Whilst he had been with Mr Gutry the toy had advanced from Standard 1 to Standawi 4, and that in from two to three years. Referring lo schoolmasters, Mrs Wright offered the remark that her experience was that a teacher would tell a falsehood as quickly as any child to get out of a corner. The Magistrate: Does your son know your views in that way. Witness: Yes.

Tbe Magistrate (sternly): To poison a boy's mind about other people is not the way to study his future. DEFYING THE MASTEK, Mr Blomfield, in quoting Court decisions as to the duties and responsibilities of a schoolmaster, submitted that he had no case to answer. It was unnecessary, he contended, to submit evidence in defence atter the boy's admission that hj« had been guilty of insulting conduct to Mr uutry on more than one occasion. He had admitted he intended to be "cheeky" and had refused to hold out his hand for a caning, and it was quite patent that unless a master was allowed to inflict punishment under such conditions his control rf a school would be gone. He urged that the boy's insubordination warranttd the punishment he received.

THE WHIPPING JUSTIFIED. She Magistrate reviewed the evidence at length, pointing out that the boy was one of the oldest boys at the school and therefore his conduct in detying the maßter was a bid example to the other scholars. The nodding of his iuad and muttering to himself wtre acts of impudence, and the authority ot the master could not be allowed to be so floated. He had been guilty of wilful disobedience and in the interests of school discipline it was most necessary that punißhment should be inflicted there and then. It was foolißh to suggest that the maßter lost his temper; on the contrary, be (the Magistrate) k thought that he had exhibited extreme moderation under very trying circumstances. The boy's hand bad got in the way and that was how he received a blovr on n:s knuckles. He (Mr Frazer) was very sorry that the case bad been brought into Court as whatever the result was it was apt to do barm to the teacher. Apparently the boy had been trading on his mother's ideas and developed obstinancy. He was badly behaved and he had a fcolishly indulgent mother. He (the Magistrate) hoped that the other boys pressnt in Court would listen to what he had said, and not to what the mother had said. He would dismiss the case without calling for any defence and would allow the defendant cos's.

INSPECTOR'S PRAISE UF MR GUTRY.

Mr Blomtield intimated that he woold make no claim for costs, but submitted for the Magistrate's information the Inspector's most recent report on the Mauku school, as tollows"The school is under the control and management of an enthusiastic, intelligent and hardwurking headmaster, assisted by a loyal and painstaking assistant. The school has reached a high level of efficiency. The pupils are taught on sound, intelligent lines and are well advanced in their work."

As previously announced the jubilee of the Mauku Presbyterian Church, which was established k in 1866, will be celebrated by special services next Sunday when the Rev. J. M. Saunders, of Auckland, will occupy the pulpit morning and evening. The celebrations will also take the form of a Jubilee social to be held in the Patumahoe Hall next Wednesday evening, preceded by a tea at 7 p.m.